United have returned to the Champions League this term, but Shearer reckons that if van Gaal doesn’t begin to deliver consistently on the pitch, his future should be called into question.

“I would argue Louis van Gaal cannot even afford to draw it,” Shearer wrote in his column for The Sun.

“He has been asking for more time for his team to blend, for young players to develop etc. Time is up I’m afraid – the time is now.

“You cannot oversee the changes he has made, backed by hundreds of millions, and then claim you are a victim because it needs time to blend. It is your job to mould a side and I would suggest a year is plenty for a club of Manchester United’s standing.

“You can get away with the dull, functional football Van Gaal is dishing up if you are getting results. But if you go back to the end of last season Van Gaal’s league run over the last 10 games now stands at three wins, three draws and four defeats.”

United currently sit in fifth place with seven points having won two, lost one and drawn one, which, while far superior to reigning champions Chelsea’s start to the season, could be viewed as simply not good enough considering the staggering amount of money van Gaal has spent on signings since his arrival two summers ago.

They take on Brendan Rodger’s side at Old Trafford for the 5.30pm kick off on Saturday. Anthony Martial, signed for a teenage record fee of £36m on deadline day, could make his first appearance for the club.